While most people would like sheer silence the moment they hop into bed, it can be beneficial for you to rely on sounds to help you attain a good night’s sleep. Especially if you are living in the heart of the city or your day is usually a stressful one, listening to certain types of sound is said to facilitate your trip to dreamland.
These days, you can choose from a wide variety of sounds that can be used as sleep aids. Some of them work by blocking out noise coming from the outside, while others help slow down your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. Then there are also certain sounds that are scientifically-proven to reduce your stress hormones.
Since there are a host of sounds to choose from, getting a good night’s sleep can be a personalized one. Each individual is different — one sleep-promoting sound type may work very well on one person but not that effectively on another. What you need to do is experiment with different sounds until the perfect one is found.
Without further ado, let us take a look at some of the different sounds that can help you have a good night’s sleep:
Relaxing Music
If you’re a music lover, then you may have an impressive number of songs on your phone, portable music player or PC. This is great news especially if you are in dire need of quality sleep — playing the right songs in the background can help your mind and body relax, priming you for a fantastic sleep ahead.
Which songs should be played is solely dependent on your taste. For some people, classical music does the job. Others go for soft rock. When creating a playlist, opt for songs that you find very relaxing. Definitely, you should steer clear of energy-charged songs that will entice you to dance rather than get some shuteye.
White Noise
Sound that is steady and unobtrusive is referred to as white noise, and it is usually electronically generated. The fact is white noise is commonly recommended for people with certain medical conditions such as hyperacusis (heightened sensitivity to environmental sounds) and tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear).
If you want to take advantage of white noise to get a good night’s sleep, you may get your hands on a white noise machine. But there is really no need to spend cash just to employ white noise in encouraging sleep. You can simply switch on an old-fashioned electric fan, or set your TV or radio to static.
Nature Sounds
Also known as pink noise, nature sounds can definitely take you to dreamland in no time. Nothing can be more soothing that the sound of rain falling on the roof, rushing of river or even the howling of winds during a stormy night. There are also some animal sounds to choose from, like the croaking of frogs or chirping of crickets.
These days, you can install a nature sound generator on your smart phone. Many of these apps offer all sorts of features, such as a timer or the ability for you to mix and match different nature sounds. You may also simply get your hands on CDs that play all sorts of sounds found in nature, if you’re really the old-fashioned kind of guy or gal.
Human Voice
For some people, nothing can be more soothing than the sound of the voice of another human being. Just like nature sounds, there are actually apps for smart phones that generate human voice. Or you may ask a family or friend to read and record step-by-step instructions on how to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
You may also purchase or download some audio books. It will be easier for you to be lulled to sleep if the reader’s voice is very soothing. No, you don’t really have to opt for some interesting audio books. In fact, you may actually fall asleep faster if the one you are listening to is downright boring.
